David Element
Wildlife
Photography and Digital Video Images
___________________________________________________________________________________________________Birds 270 – Common Kingfishers
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (f)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (f)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (f)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (f)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHERS Alcedo
atthis (m, f)
COMMON KINGFISHERS Alcedo
atthis (m, f)
COMMON KINGFISHERS Alcedo
atthis (m, f)
COMMON KINGFISHERS Alcedo
atthis (m, f)
COMMON KINGFISHERS Alcedo
atthis (m, f)
COMMON KINGFISHERS Alcedo
atthis (m, f)
COMMON KINGFISHERS Alcedo
atthis (m, f)
COMMON KINGFISHERS Alcedo
atthis (m, f)
COMMON KINGFISHERS Alcedo
atthis (m, f)
COMMON KINGFISHERS Alcedo
atthis (m, f)
COMMON KINGFISHERS Alcedo
atthis (m, f)
COMMON KINGFISHERS Alcedo
atthis (m, f)
COMMON KINGFISHERS Alcedo
atthis (m, f)
COMMON KINGFISHERS Alcedo
atthis (m, f)
COMMON KINGFISHERS Alcedo
atthis (m, f)
COMMON KINGFISHERS Alcedo
atthis (m, f)
COMMON KINGFISHERS Alcedo
atthis (m, f)
COMMON KINGFISHERS Alcedo
atthis (m, f)
COMMON KINGFISHERS Alcedo
atthis (m, f)
COMMON KINGFISHERS Alcedo
atthis (m, f)
COMMON KINGFISHERS Alcedo
atthis (m, f)
COMMON KINGFISHERS Alcedo
atthis (m, f)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON
KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (f)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (f)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (f)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo
atthis (m)
COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis (m)
- Common Kingfishers Alcedo atthis are usually rather shy birds, and all
that the observer usually sees is a brilliant metallic blue blur as one
whizzes past at high speed. The bright blue shades are variable when seen
in different light intensities (sun or shade, in which the predominant
blue is cobalt), and there are subtle differences between the sexes. The
blues are caused by ‘structural coloration’, in essence the interference
caused by incidental light reflecting from transparent, finely sculptured
microstructural surface details of the feathers at wavelengths lying at
the blue end of the spectrum rather than as a consequence of pigmentation
(see: https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/features/why-does-the-kingfisher-have-blue-feathers for an account
of how this phenomenon works). However, the orange feathers are pigmented.
These birds are stunning looking creatures, particularly when observed
from close range, and close-up photographs reveal the intricacies of their
plumage. They can be surprisingly difficult to spot once perched despite
their bright colours, so it pays to watch one closely if it flies by to
establish where it may have landed. Opportunities to photograph them are
rare, other than at certain bird reserves where artificial nesting banks
or feeding stations have been provided, and where they may be observed
from hides. However, the images on this page were obtained using patient
fieldcraft rather than hides, and the frequency and proximity of sightings
have increased ever since a tree was felled by a storm, conveniently
landing with its branches projecting over a stream. Note that a couple of
the images have been photo-bombed by a Little Egret Egretta
garzetta! A mainly black bill is a
characteristic of male Common Kingfishers (a male has been illustrated in
all of the images above), and females possess orange lower mandibles,
visible from some distance when trying to distinguish the sexes. These
birds are expert fishermen, specialising on smaller species, including Three-spined
Stickleback Gasterosteus
aculeatus, or Common Minnow Phoxinus phoxinus,
as shown in several of the photographs above. They do not normally appear
to select bottom-feeding fish, and some dives may be shallow, depending on
the depth of the water and the angle of their dive. Usually, a
Kingfisher’s head will be tilted down towards an intended target with the
bill at an angle of about 45˚immediately before diving, with the
wings held back, streamlining the body, arrow-like, as it hits the water.
Buoyancy brings them back to the surface, and the wings will be used to
break the surface tension as one emerges. Not all dives will be
successful, and sometimes other objects may inadvertently be caught –
stones, leaves, twigs being examples. The transparent nictitating
membranes are employed to cover the corneas of their eyes during a dive,
and to protect them against thrashing fish before they are swallowed,
head-first. Larger fish may need to be stunned by bashing them against
hard surfaces before that can be eaten. During their rather noisy
courtship displays, often including high speed aerial pursuits, food will
be presented to females by their mates. The equivalent of the bird’s own
weight in fish needs to be consumed daily, so three or four successful
fishing forays each day should suffice unless fish are scarce. Once sated,
it is likely that a Kingfisher will disappear to digest its substantial
meal, so waiting for it to return may prove fruitless (unless, of course,
the bird doesn’t fly away)! After feeding, the water will be shaken off
the plumage and preening may follow. Sometimes a fish may be too large to
eat immediately if a Kingfisher has already swallowed several in quick
succession, in which case it may need to hold it in its bill until enough
space is available! The photographer once filmed a Kingfisher catching
three Common Minnows in a single strike, but one wriggled free, another
was dropped back into the water and the third was rather less fortunate!
Several aspects of behaviour are illustrated above, including the use of
the nictitating membrane (the third eyelid) to protect the eye. Also
included is a courtship sequence, in which the male will make an offering
of a fish to the female (in this case a Common Minnow), and then display
to her once she has accepted it. The fish is held by the tail end, and
presented head-first so that it is easy for the female to swallow. Most of
the images in the courtship sequence, the picture of the female diving, and
the close-up of the wing and foot have been cropped.
- David’s
short films of Common Kingfishers
may be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4AirIEc0NofO29R6V9Zk247r8O9PW2O1.
- David’s
photographic books illustrating Common Kingfishers may be found by
using this hyperlink: https://www.bobbooks.co.uk/bookshop?page=1&search=david+element.
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